Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

Every Tuesday legged and evil-looking, scowled. " Why wait till to-morrow?" " They're holding a dance at the ranch- house to-morrow night, that's why," Brady told them. "And you know what the El Fanrta dances are like. Every last puncher on the ranch will be there, and they'll have nobody out riding night- herd. Sheriff Corson will probably be there, too, with his deputy and some of his men." "Huh, I don't see nothin' favourable in that!" grunted the bow-legged one. "He's a tough hombre, that sheriff. I'd sooner he was somewhere's else." "Don't worry, Steve," said Brady. "I'm going to that dance myself, and before I leave I'm going to let down the corral rails and drive off every saddle horse in the ranch yard." "You're going?" Steve stared at him in astonishment. "Takin' big chances, ain't you ?" "I'm going to get the girl." Brady grinned. "If things work out the way I think they will, we'll be married by dawn the next morning. I'll have two of the boys waiting at the rocks by the Devil's Leap with a priest from the San Jacinto Monastery." A tall man whom the others called J lank shook his head and spat. "Boss, I don't like it," he muttered. "Girls and rustlin' don't mix too good." Brady's hand went to his gun. "Who's running this outfit?" he snarled. Then he forced a smile. "Listen, I'm figuring on driving off every head of stock on that river section at one swoop. I don't reckon on there being any hitch, but if anything did happen to go wrong, as husband of the girl who owns the ranch, I'd be ablo to straighten everything out." "lie's right," said Steve. " We'd be in the clear. What do you want us to do, boss?" "You and Hank will conic with me," Brady explained. "I'll leave you about half a mile from the ranch-house and go in to fetch the girl myself. She'll be willing all right, and I'll fix it some- how. Shorty and Kergan will be waiting at the Devil's Leap with the priest. Lafe and the rest of the boys will have the whole herd rounded up and moving north, and as soon as the priest has married us, I'll join you. And if Buck Benson and his men trail us, so much the better!" "How d'you make that out?" grumbled Hank. Brady's mouth twisted into a cold grin. "Did you ever see a better spot for ambushing a posse than the gorge by the Devil's Leap?" he said soft.lv. "We'll be waiting for them. But just one thing—I want you to leave Buck Benson to me!" Although Mary had been looking for- ward to. seeing her friend again, Barbara had not been at the ranch very many hours beforo Mary bitterly re- gretted having invited her. For from (lie very first moment Buck and Barbara seemed to get on very well together. So well, m fact, that Mary, to her own surprise, found herself being burnt up with jealousy. Only now did she begin to realise what Buck meant to her. Because she had known Buck in the East, Barbara seemed to look upon him as her own private property, and flirted with him at every opportunity. She treated him with the familiarity of an old friend, and was continually saying: "Buck darling, don't you remember that day at Meadowbrook?" or: "I shall never forget the time that we first met, will you?" until Alary was heartily sick of the sound of her voice. Had Mary but known, Barbara meant nothing at all to Buck, but she amused BOY'S CINEMA him, and though at times he felt rather embarrassed, he was too polite to rebuff her. The climax came the night of the dance; a climax that played directly into Dick Brady's hands. Except for a few dances which the sheriff and some of the men claimed, it seemed to Mary thai Barbara had nearly every dance with Buck. Naturally, Buck danced with Mary, too, but when he did, Mary felt so furious that she made matters worse by treating him distantly and snubbing him. Buck, unaware of the real reason, took it as a sign of her usual hostility towards him, and for the rest of the night kept out of her way. The night was nearly over, and most of the dancers were getting tired, when Mary, strolling out on to the back veranda for a breath of fresh air, came upon Buck and Barbara sitting together in the shadows. She had no intention of eavesdropping, but even as she turned to go she saw Barbara put her arms round Buck's neck and heard the sound of a kiss. Dead in the air, her face flaming, Mary stalked off and out on to the patio as far away from them as she could get. In the east the sky was beginning to turn pearl grey with the approaching dawn, and a cool breath of air fanned her cheek. Suddenly someone close by called her softly by name, nil >> J J Mary. Startled, she looked round. Then Dirk Brady was beside her. "Dick, you shouldn't have come!" she gasped. '"Why not?" Brady laughed, and pulled her gently to him behind a large shrub. "I said I'd come, didn't I?" "It will only cause trouble,'' Mary whispered. "If Buck and the sheriff "I had to see you," broke in Dick'. "You know I'm crazy about you. Look. I've got a horse waiting for you. And a priest. We'll be married—at once!" His voice was husky and urgent, and Mary felt herself carried away by the glamour of it all. Still, she would not have listened if it had not been for the thought of Barbara and Buck. She was feeling hurt and wounded, and, obeying a sudden impulse, she caught Dick's arm. 23 "All right. I'll come. But wait for me a minute. 1 can't leave dressed like this." She hurried off to her room, changed into her ruling things, and scribbled a note which she gave to Mandy. "I want you to give this to Mr. Ben- son," she told the surprised maid. "Not now. Not for at least an hour. Do you understand ?" "Why, yes, ma'am." Mandy's eyes were two round saucers. "But, mail goodness, what ever is you aimin' to do?" " Never mind now. And don't forget —give that note to Mr. Benson in an hour's time. Not before." "Yes, ma'am." Creeping downstairs, Mary left by a side door and rejoined Brady unobserved. Together they stole softly from the patio, and were soon mounted and riding away. The Fight on the Ledge. AFTER Mary had gone, Mandy felt very troubled. The more she thought about it, the stranger did Mary's actions seem. And at last, in spue of Mary's instructions, she decide:! fo wait no longer, but to give the nor.; to Buck. She found him talking to the sheriff, and when he ripped the note open and read it his mouth tightened. "Dear Buck "- he read—"I have left wiih Dick for the -pot. by the river where he and I first met. \t is useless for you to follow us, for by the nine get this note we shall have married. "M \uv." "How lone |3 jt siuee she left?" rapped out Buck. About lil'ieen minutes, 1 rrness," re- plied the frightened maid. " Maybe a little more." At that moment a cowboy stumbled into the room. His face was streaked with dust and sweat, and he limped from a bullet wound in the ankle. "Rustlers!" he gasped.' "Down on the river section! They've got the whole darned herd rounded up! They winged me. Couldn't do am thin' on my own, there was too many of 'em." Immediately all was pandemonium. (Continued on Page 27) Magnificent JUBILEE Double Number Greatly enlarged to accommodate a record programme of wonderful features and pictures, this week's special issue of ANSWERS com- memorating the Silver Jubilee of our beloved King and Queen is the finest celebration issue of any weekly journal published. Its special attractions include:— The Whole Story of KING GEORGE'S REIGN in a series of illustrated articles. Also a Magnificent 8-Page PHOTOGRAVURE Pictorial Supplement telling in pictures the story of 25 won- derful years from 1910 until to-day. ANSWERS 64 LARGE PAGES Now On Sale & usual May 11th, 1035.